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[Josh66]

2013102601 by J E, on Flickr

 

[Josh66]

I was thinking that maybe I should have used a red filter on this to darken the greens - might make what is in the syringe more obvious...

edit
It's money, in case you can't tell...

 

[kundalini]

That was me a few decades ago.

All I can say is........

 

[amolitor]

Interesting concept, but it is most definitely NOT obvious that it's money in the syringe. This looks like a vaguely disturbing "oh, junkies again" photo, rather than the interesting concept piece that it evidently is. You need to make the money thing much more obvious. This might be a place to use selective color, or some other device to make it much much more clear that it's money.

 

[Josh66]

it is most definitely NOT obvious that it's money in the syringe.

Thanks.

I'll try a reshoot ( ). I think using a red/orange filter will help (it will darken the green on the bill, and also lighten the markings on the syringe - as they are a reddish color), I'll also try to get the clearest side of the syringe showing.

Also, I think one of my flashes did not fire on this...

I think color would make it very obvious what it is, but I think B&W works better...

 

[Josh66]

Since I've decided that I'm going to do a reshoot, what else isn't working?

Does it look like the needle is actually puncturing the skin? It's not - it's cut short and is just pressed against my arm. I was worried that it would look fake...

 

[amolitor]

I think, now that you point it out, the puncture does look a little off.

 

[Josh66]

I was trying to get my veins to "pop" more, but it just wasn't happening, lol. (I even tired off, lol - it really was cutting off circulation.)

On my forearm, they really pop - but doing it there didn't seem 'right'.

I didn't want to say too much about the photo, because that would limit the interpretations one could make from it. But I was trying to show how consumerism and drug abuse are not so far removed.


This was shot during the same session, though it is different, it has a similar theme.

2013102604 by J E, on Flickr

I considered starting a thread for that one, but I couldn't think of a name for it... I hate naming photos...

I'll do the reshoot tonight, and if I can think of 30 something other things to shoot as well, I may develop it tonight too.

 

[pixmedic1 1]

Since I've decided that I'm going to do a reshoot, what else isn't working?

Does it look like the needle is actually puncturing the skin? It's not - it's cut short and is just pressed against my arm. I was worried that it would look fake...

the puncture does look a bit faked.
personally, I would just use a sharp needle and actually stick myself....but that's just me.
If you don't want to actually stick a needle in your antecubital vein, you can make the technique you used a little more realistic if you press a little harder. it will make more of an indent in the skin, and give a better impression of penetration. also, in case you were wondering, your angle is spot on for an AC stick. (15-30 degrees) nicely done!

 

[Josh66]

I think I need to do a Google Images search on IV's to see what I should be going for... As far as realism at the puncture site.

I considered actually sticking myself, lol, but thought there would be too much going on between trying to get everything positioned and working the remote (in my hand, out of frame). Plus, I really wanted to avoid sticking a needle in my arm, lol. I don't mind subcutaneous shots, but intravenous injections always weird me out.

 

[Josh66]

I'm curious - are glass syringes actually used "in the field"? I use it because it can be washed and it's chemical resistant. I need another one just like this, but with a 10 or 20cc capacity... I mainly use it for measuring Rodinal.

That's another reason I don't want to actually stick myself - my needles probably have Rodinal on them, lol.

 

[amolitor]

I'm gonna take a wild guess and speculate that needles are not freely available in Texas for the asking?

A light touch of PS as the puncture site would probably be both easy and effective.

 

[limr33 3]

Well, maybe I'm squeamish because all I saw was the "puncture" and GAH! had to look away. So I tried to notice other parts of the photo but I was concentrating too hard on resisting the morbid urge to stare at the "puncture" some more. I didn't notice the dollar bill at all.

Okay, let me look at it again to see if there's anything you could do differently.

First of all, GAH!

Second, maybe showing a bit of rubber instead of cloth for the tourniquet? Since that's what's more often used. And the dollar needs to be more visible. Is there a clear side to the syringe? Sometimes flicking the vein or flexing the muscle will make it pop more clearly.

Finally, GAH!

 

[Josh66]

Not sure what you're getting at. I'm sure I could find some, or buy some. All of the needles I currently have are blunt tipped though. Strictly for measuring chemicals.

I've done a lot of drugs in my day, yes even heroin, but that was a long time ago - and I never messed with needles. That was all a LONG time ago, and I've moved on... I've done them all, and lived to talk about it.


I might have to PS the puncture site, but I haven't done the searches yet to see what I should be aiming for.

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If anybody ever wants to talk about it, I've done it all, and I don't even regret it... Not saying you should do it, just that I know what it's like. Never was into pills or needles though. If you could smoke it or snort it, I did it.
But like I said, that was a long time ago.

Alcohol and tobacco is another matter entirely. Both are more addictive than cocaine, IMO...

 

[Josh66]

Second, maybe showing a bit of rubber instead of cloth for the tourniquet? Since that's what's more often used. And the dollar needs to be more visible. Is there a clear side to the syringe? Sometimes flicking the vein or flexing the muscle will make it pop more clearly.

Finally, GAH!

I used what I had - I figured that's what a junkie would do, lol. There is a clear side to the syringe, and I don't really know why I didn't show it the first time...

Flicking the vein? Is this from experience, lol? It's not the lighting - it just wasn't "popping". If I was a junkie, I'd have to shoot up in my forearm - that's the only place I could reliably find a vein.